from our money and control all land and water use." the final bill avoided the phrases sea level rise and climate change and won overwhelming bipartisan support this year. >> some people have tried to spin it into a political issue because we changed the wording from sea level rise to flooding. >> reporter: republican state delegate chris stolle changed the language in the legislation. he argues the problem is real, no matter what you call it. >> we wanted this study not to get caught up in that discussion of sea level rise. what we want to know is what are we going to do for the folks here in norfolk, the tidewater, and virginia beach to stop the water from coming in their doors. >> reporter: to do that, norfolk is taking a number of steps to kd pect its residenteean thedry.k but when a big storm does hit, th greatest challenge this city faces is getting its vulnerable residents to safety in time. >> it would take at least 36 hours to get the folks we identify in the low lying areas who need to get out, to get out. >> reporter: jim re